Toothbrush

ABSTRACT

Toothbrush having a base, a pair of laterally spaced arms extending from the base on opposite sides of an axis, a semicylindrical brush head formed in two separate sections which are disposed side-by-side on one side of the axis and extend from respective ones of the arms, with each of the sections including an arcuately curved side wall having an arc length of approximately 90 degrees centered about the axis, and bristles extending radially from the side walls toward the axis for simultaneous engagement with the top/bottom and both sides of a tooth. In one disclosed embodiment, the toothbrush is used manually, and in another it is used in conjunction with a drive motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains generally to dental hygiene and, more particularly, to toothbrushes for brushing multiple sides of the teeth simultaneously.

2. Related Art

Heretofore, there have been a number of attempts to provide toothbrushes that can brush more than one side of the teeth at a time. Examples of such toothbrushes are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,214,497, 2,244,615, 2,528,992, and 5,137,039, each of which has certain limitations and disadvantages such as relatively large, cumbersome cleaning heads that can be difficult to manipulate within the mouth.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, in general, an object of the invention to provide a new and improved toothbrush for simultaneously brushing multiple sides of teeth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush of the above character which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of toothbrushes heretofore provided.

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a toothbrush having a base, a pair of laterally spaced arms extending from the base on opposite sides of an axis, a semicylindrical brush head formed in two separate sections which are disposed side-by-side on one side of the axis and extend from respective ones of the arms, with each of the sections including an arcuately curved side wall having an arc length of approximately 90 degrees centered about the axis, and bristles extending radially from the side walls toward the axis for simultaneous engagement with the top/bottom and both sides of a tooth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left front isometric view of one embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a left rear isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a left front isometric view of another embodiment of a toothbrush according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a bottom front isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the toothbrush has an elongated handle 11 which extends along an axis 12 and is adapted to be held in the conventional way by the hand of a person brushing his or her teeth. A pair of arms 13, 13 extend from the upper end of the handle are spaced laterally apart in a symmetrical manner on opposite sides of the axis, with the arms and the handle lying generally in a plane which passes through the axis.

Each of the arms has a first section 13 a which curves outwardly and upwardly from the handle, a second section 13 b which extends from the first section in a direction general parallel to the axis, and a third section 13 c which extends from the second section and converges back toward the axis.

The arms terminate in arcuately curved side walls 14, 14 each of which has a circular arc length of approximately 90 degrees centered about axis 12. The two side walls are disposed side-by-side on one side of the axis, and together they form a semicylindrical brush head 16, with the upper front corners of the head being rounded as indicated at 17, 17.

Bristles 19 extend in radial directions from the side walls of the brush head toward the axis for simultaneous engagement with both the inner and the outer sides of a tooth. In addition, depending on whether the tooth is a lower tooth or an upper tooth, the bristles can also engage the top or bottom of the tooth at the same time they engage the sides. The tips of the bristles define a channel or opening 21 which faces in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the arms and handle for receiving the teeth.

Handle 11, arms 13, 14, and the side walls 14, 14 are formed as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material which gives the arms a limited degree of lateral flexibility for bringing the tips of the bristles closer together and farther apart to control the pressure exerted on the sides of the teeth. The arms are relatively flat and have a generally rectangular cross section, with the width of the arms being greater than the thickness, and the wide sides 21 of the arms facing each other. Thus, even though the arms have limited flexibility in the lateral direction, they are relatively rigid in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which they lie.

In use, toothpaste is placed in the opening or channel between the bristles, the bristles are brought into engagement with the teeth, and the tops or bottoms and both sides of the teeth are brushed at the same time with a simple back and forth motion of the brush head. With the two sections of the brush head carried by separate arms, the pressure exerted on the sides of the teeth can be controlled by exerting more or less lateral force on the arms.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6-7 is generally similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, and like reference numerals designate corresponding elements in the two. In the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7, however, arms 13 include only sections 13 a, 13 a and 13 c, 13 c, and they extend from a base 23 which is adapted to be mounted on the drive motor section of a conventional electric toothbrush (not shown). The arms are free to move relative to the base and are driven by the motor through links 24, 24 to impart a brushing action to the brush head and bristles.

The invention has a number of important features and advantages. It permits the tops or bottoms and both sides of the teeth to be brushed at the same time, and permits the degree of pressure exerted on the sides of the teeth to be controlled.

It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved toothbrush has been provided. While only certain presently preferred embodiments have been described in detail, as will be apparent to those familiar with the art, certain changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A toothbrush comprising a base, a pair of laterally spaced arms extending from the base on opposite sides of an axis, a semicylindrical brush head formed in two separate sections which are disposed side-by-side on one side of the axis and extend from respective ones of the arms, with each of the sections including an arcuately curved side wall having an arc length of approximately 90 degrees centered about the axis, and bristles extending radially from the side walls toward the axis for simultaneous engagement with the top/bottom and both sides of a tooth.
 2. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the arms have inner sections which diverge from the base, middle sections which extend generally parallel to the axis, and outer sections which converge toward the axis, with the side walls of the brush head extending from the outer sections.
 3. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the arms lie generally in a plane which passes through the axis, with an opening defined by tip portions of the bristles facing in a direction perpendicular to the plane for receiving the tooth.
 4. The toothbrush of claim 3 wherein the arms are somewhat flexible in a direction toward and away from each other and relatively rigid in a direction perpendicular to the plane.
 5. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the handle, the arms, and the side walls of the brush head are formed as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material.
 6. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the base is an axially extending handle adapted to gripped by the hand of a person brushing his or her teeth.
 7. The toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the base is adapted to be mounted to a drive motor, with the arms being movable relative to the base and being driven by the motor to effective a brushing movement of the bristles relative to the tooth.
 8. A toothbrush comprising an elongated handle, a pair of relatively flat arms of greater width than thickness extending from one end of the handle on opposite sides of an axis with the wide sides of the arms facing each other and each of the arms terminating in an arcuately curved side wall having an arc length of approximately 90 degrees, the two side walls together forming a semicylindrical brush head centered about the axis, and bristles extending radially from the side walls toward the axis for simultaneous engagement with the top/bottom and both sides of a tooth.
 9. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the handle, the arms, and the side walls are formed as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material.
 10. The toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the arms have inner sections which diverge from the from, middle sections which extend generally parallel to the axis, and outer sections which converge toward the axis, with the side walls extending from the outer sections.
 11. A toothbrush comprising a base which is mounted to a drive motor, a pair of laterally spaced arms which are driven by the motor and extend from the base on opposite sides of an axis, a semicylindrical brush head formed in two separate sections which are disposed side-by-side on one side of the axis and extend from respective ones of the arms, with each of the sections including an arcuately curved side wall having an arc length of approximately 90 degrees centered about the axis, and bristles extending radially from the side walls toward the axis for simultaneous engagement with the top/bottom and both sides of a tooth.
 12. The toothbrush of claim 11 wherein each of the arms and the side wall extending therefrom is formed as a unitary structure of a semi-rigid plastic material. 